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10 Scenes From Musicals That Gave Us Unrealistic Expectations About Love

There are a lot of movies that give us unrealiastic expectations about love, but among the worst are movie musicals. Not only are they going playing out far-fetched romantic comedy-style love affairs, but they're doing it in song. Not that we're complaining, but here are 10 musical scenes that seriously mess with our perception of love.

1. The Sound of Music, “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”

This little nugget made all us little girls believe that one day when we were 16, going on 17, an older boy would come and take care of us, so other older boys would never hurt us. And, oh, the rain starts. And of course the music break for them to dance romantically. Swoon.

2. Rent, “Light my Candle”

It’s a classic case of girl sees cute boy in the hallway, girl blows out her already lit drug candle so she has an excuse to talk to boy, boy doesn’t recognize girl without handcuffs on, girl continually blows out her candle to keep talking to boy, boy and girl fall in love. Oh, Rent.

3. Little Shop of Horrors, “Suddenly Seymour”

Don’t we all dream about the good, sweet, caring guy coming to save us from the disgusting, abusive pig we’ve been dating? And then accidentally feeding us to a plant? Well, OK, if that’s not already your lifelong fantasy, it will be after watching this clip.

4. Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical, “Romeo and Juliet”

Jimmy and Mary Lane have the benefits of being young, dumb, and drug-free (at this point, anyway), which makes the beginning of their love story delightfully cheesy in the best way possible.

5. Cinderella, “Ten Minutes Ago”

In Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Cinderella and Prince Charming dance at the ball and sing about how their lives changed when they first saw each other, just 10 minutes ago. If only life were a fairy tale. Sigh.

6. Moulin Rouge, “Come What May”

Christian and Satine have a secret love theme to remind each other that whatever happens, they are completely mad for each other. It’s basically the most romantic thing ever.

7. West Side Story, “Tonight”

Just two people declaring their undying love for each other as they hold each other on a balcony and sing. Totally normal.

8. Enchanted , “That’s How You Know”

In this completely self-aware musical number, Giselle teaches Robert how to woo his lady. Everyone in the city joins in, of course.

9. Hairspray, “Without Love”

The best part about the movie adaptation of this terribly cheesy song about why life is the total pits without love, is that Link starts out singing to Tracy’s picture—and the picture sings back. A cheesy, lovey-dovey masterpiece.

10. South Pacific, “Some Enchanted Evening”

Nothing like a good ole song about love at first sight. “Once you have found her, never let her go.” Never.